smith



(No Model.)

0.3. SMITH. TELEPHONE AND CALLING SYSTEM.

Patented Apr. 28, 1896.

ANDREW BGRAHAM PHOTO-UTHDWASHINGI'UNJ C.

UNITED TATES ATENT ries.

CHARLES E. SMITH, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR OF T\VO-TIIIRDS TO ROBERT G. VASSAR AND JAMES G. SMITH, OF'SAME PLACE.

TELEPHONE AND CALLING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,087, dated April 28, 1896. Application filed November 19, 1895. Serial No. 569,436. (No model.)

adapted for use in what are known as inte-.

rior telephone systems, although the invention is not limited to this use.

One object of the invention is to enable an attendant or subscriber at one station to call another-station, and also to operate an indicator or annunciator in the called station to indicate the calling station; and in carrying out this portion of my invention I provide a plurality of conductors or wires passing through or connected with said stations, each wire being normally apportioned to one station, and in each station are calling orsignaling instruments arranged to be operated by a current sent from a calling station overthe main wire belonging to a station to be called to give a call in the latter station, and in each station also are indicators or annunciators connected with the mainline Wires belonging to the other stations, and means are provided in each station to send a current over the wire belonging to the calling station to operate the corresponding indicator or an nunciator inthe called station, to indicate in the called station which station is calling.

Another object of the invention is to enable the calling and called stations to establish a closed metallic circuitout of the mainline wires belonging to said two stations through telephone instruments in said stations, and in carrying outthis portion of the "invention telephone instruments are located in said stations and novel means are provided for connecting the line-wires of two stations through the corresponding telephone instruments in a closed metallic circuit.

The invention further consistsin the novel details of improvement and the combinations of parts that will be more fully hereinafter set forth, and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, forming part here-of, which is a dia- I grammatic view of my improved system complete.

In the drawing, the numerals 1 2 3 indicate main -line conductors or wires which pass through or connect with all the stations A B 0, one of such wires being normally apportioned to each station, there being any de sired or appropriate number of such stations and wires 011 a system, said wires being nor.- mally open at the ends. In each station a contact 1 2 3 is respectively connected with the line-wires 1, 2, or 3bclonging to the other stations, there being no such contact in a station connected with its main-line wire. I have shownspurs or branch wires 1 2 3 connecting said main wires with said contacts, respectively.

4 are switches in each station, suitably carried and arranged to make electrical connection with either contact 1, 2, or 3, as the case may be.

Each switch l in each station is connected with a receiver 5 and the secondary coil 6 of an induction-coil, as by a wire 7, which extends from the switch 4: to the receiver 5, and from the receiver 5 extends a wire 7 to the secondary coil 6, and from said coil extends a wire 7, which connects with a contact 8; but of course these connections could be otherwise arranged, if preferred.

9 is a hook, switch, or lever which is suitably pivoted, as at 10, and adapted to support the receiver 5, as shown. The switch 9 is heavier at one end than the other, so that when the receiver 5 is removed from it it will descend to make electrical engagement with the contact 8. From the switch 9 in each station extends a conductor 11, which is connected with the respective line-wire 1, 2, or 3 normally apportioned to its station. With this arrangement, to form a closed metallic circuit through the receivers at two stations the switches 4 4 in each station are turned to the contacts 1, 2, or 3 of the wire leading to the other station desired and the respective receivers 5 5 are lifted from theirswitches,

which latter then move to make contact at 8.

The circuit will then be as follows, say from station A to station 0: The switch 4inA engages contact 3 and the switch 4 in engages contact 1, the switches 9 engaging contacts 8. From 4 in station A the circuit leads to 3*, through wire 3 to main wire 3, thence to 3 in station 0, through conductor 11, switch 9, contact 8, wire 7 secondary coil6, wire 7, receiver 5, wire 7, switch 4, contact 1, and wire 1 (all at 0,) thence through main wire 1 to 1 in station A, thence through conductor 11, switch 9, contact 8, wire 7", secondary coil 6, wire 7 receiver 5, and wire 7 to switch 4, the starting-point. \Vhen the parties have finished talking, the receivers are hung on the switches 9 to break the closed metallic circuit.

The local circuit for each transmitter 12 may be as follows: From the transmitter a conductor 13 passes to the primary coil 6 of the induction-coil, and includes a battery 14. From the coil 6 a wire 15 passes to a contact 16. 17 is a contact carried by and insulated from the switch 9, normally out of engagement with contact 16 and adapted to engage therewith when the receiver 5 is removed from the switch. The contact 17 is connected by a wire 18 with the transmitter 12. \Vhen the receiver is removed from the switch 9, the local circuit passes from the transmitter 12, through wire 13, battery 14, coil 6, wire 15, contacts 16, 17, and wire 18, back to the transmitter.

Means for giving a signal or call from one station to another are shown as follows: 19 is a signaling instrument or call-bell connected with a normally open local circuit, which for convenience utilizes the battery 14, and for this purpose a wire 20 extends from one side of the magnet of the call-bell to the battery 14. 21 is a wire shown extending from the wire 13 (or it may be from the battery direct) to an armature 22 of a magnet 23. The armature 22 is adapted to engage a contact 24, connected by a wire 25 with the other side of the magnet of the call-bell 19. This local circuit, when closed, leads from 24, through 25, 19, 20, 14, 13, 21, and 22, back to 24. It is evident that instead of using the armature 22 as part of the circuit a contact could be carried or operated thereby for the purpose. The magnet 23 in each station is located on a wire 27, leading to ground, as 26, and this wire 27 is normally connected with the mainline wire of its station as follows: The wire 27 passes to a contact 28, which is normally in engagement with a spring-contact 29, which may be the movable contact of a push-button or circuit-closer 30. The contact 29 leads by a wire 31 to a contact 32, normally in engagement with the switch 9 when the receiver 5 is supported thereby, as shown, and the wire 11 serves to connect the wire 31, through the switch 9, to the main-line wire of its station.

For convenience in utilizing the battery 14 in one station to send an impulse to the magnet 23 in another station I provide the following arrangement: From ground, as 26, a wire 21 leads to the Wire 21, and from the wire 20 awire 33 leads to acontact 34, adapted to be engaged and moved by contact 29. is a contact adapted to be engaged by contact 34 (when the latter is moved by contact 29) and the contact 35 is connected by a wire 36 with wire 7. When the push-button 30 is operated in one station, it will break the con nection, at 28 29, for the magnet 23 (in that station) and establish the circuit at 34 35, from its battery to the magnet 23 at the desired station. Thus to send a call from one station to another the switch 4 is turned to the contact 1, 2, or 3, connected with the main-line wire of the station desired and the push-button in the calling-station is pressed. Suppose station A is to call station 0. The switch 4 at A is first turned to contact 3 and the push-button or circuit-closer 30, at A, operated. The circuit will then be from 26, through wires 21 21 13, battery 14, wires 20 33, contacts 34 35, wires 36 7, switch 4, contact 3 and wire 3 to wire 3, (all at station A,) thence along wire 3 to wire 3 (in station 0,) thence through wire 11, switch 9, contact 32, wire 31, contacts 29 28, wire 27, and magnet 23 to ground, (at 0.) The current from battery 14 (at A) now energizes magnet 23, (at 0,) which, by attracting the armature 22, closes the local circuit for the bell, (at 0,) whereupon a signal will be given by said bell at the desired station.

In order to indicate to the attendant or subscriber at the called station which station has called him, so that he can connect his telephone instruments with the calling station, I cause an indicator or annunciator or other suitable indicating device to be operated in the called station to indicate the calling station and its wire. For this purpose I utilize the main-line wire normally belonging or apportioned to the calling station to operate the indicator or annunciator in the called station, and to this end I have shown the followin g arrangements: At each station the mainline wires belonging to the other stations are connected with suitable indicators or annunciators 40 41 42. From the branch wires 1", 2 or 3 in each station which lead from the main-line wires belonging to the other stations (or from said line-wires direct) extend spur or branch wires 44 45 46, which lead, respectively, to contacts 47 48 49. The contacts 47 48 49 are adapted to be engaged by contacts 50, carried by and insulated from the armatures 22, respectively, in the difierent stations. The contact 50 in each station is connected with a wire 51, which leads to ground, passing through a second coil of magnet 23, which for this purpose is a doublewound magnet. With this arrangement,

when the armature 22 is attracted by the magnet 23 in a station, (as when a call is given in that station,) the circuits for the annunciators or indicators 40, 41, or 42 will be partially established through the respective wires 44 45 46, and thence through contact 50 and wire 51 to ground 26.

Any suitable means may be provided in each station to send an impulse to another station to operate the indicator or annun ciator or drop in the latter station corresponding to the calling station. For convenience in simplifying the arrangements of circuits, contacts, and push-buttons, and to reduce the number of batteries to be used on the system, I utilize some of the circuits and contacts, as well as the batteries before described. For this purpose the contacts 29 34 are used to close a circuit, in a station, through the bat tery 14 in that station to and through the main-line wire of that station, to the corresponding indicator or annunciator in a called station. This circuit to operate the indicator or annunciator may be organized and traced as follows: From ground in the calling station (say A) to wires 21 and 21, battery 14,

wires 20 and 33, to contact 34, thence to 0011- tact 29, (when the push-button is pressed,) thence by wire 31 and contact 32 to switch 9, thence by wires 11 and 1 to wire 1 in the calling station A, thence along wire 1 to the called station, (say 0,) thence by Wire 1 in the latter station through annunciator 40, thence through wire 44 to contacts 47, thence tocontact 50, (when armature 22 has been attracted by magnet 23 in giving a call,) and by wire 51, through its coil of magnet 23, to ground 26' in the called station. The annunciator will then operate to indicate in the called station the wire belonging to the calling station.

It will be apparent from what has been eX- plained that the giving of a call and the operating of an annuneiator in a called station will be practically together and accomplished by the operation of a single push-button or circuit-closer, for when the push-button 30 is operated the circuit through 33 34 35 36, &c.,

will be closed to give a call, whereupon and directly thereafter the circuit through 33 34 29 31, &c., is closed to operate an annunciator, the current from battery 14 thereupon dividing at 34 29 35 and passing through the two branches described to ground 26 at the called station.

It is obvious that two separate bush-buttons and proper connections therefor can be used with separate batteries to operate the calling line and the indicators or annunciators over their line.

In the foregoing description only one battery 14 has been described as being used at one time; but, if desired, several or all of the batteries can be thrown on the line at once to increase the strength of the current being used. For this purpose I may provide an em tra open wire 52, passing through the stations and connected with the respective batteries 14 by wires 53, as shown, so that when the circuit is closed through any one battery it will draw on all the others.

The complete operation of the entire system may be explained as follows: Supposea party at station A desires to communicate with a to engage contact 35, at the same time breakin g the circuit at 28 29. The circuit through the magnet 23 at station will now be complete from ground 26 (at A) through the main line 3 to ground 26 at O, and thus through its magnet 23, as before explained. Magnet 23, at 0, now attracts its armature 22, which closes the local circuit at 24 for the signaling instrument 19, (whereupon the latter circuit will operate to give a call,) and the armature 22 also closes the circuits for the indicators or annunciators at 47 48 50. The current from the battery 14 will thereupon divide and pass to the corresponding annunciator 40, at C, from ground 26 in station A, through the main line 1 to ground at C, as before explained, whereupon the indicator annunciator at C will operate to indicate in station C which other station the call has been sent from. The attendant at station A thereupon releases the push-button 30, which breaks the calling and annunciator circuits, allowing armature 22, at C, to move back, thus stopping the call, but the annunciator remains set. The attendant at station A now raises his receiver from its switch 9, which latter acts to close the circuit through the receiver at 8 9 and establishes the local circuit for the transmitter 12 at 16 17 The attendant at station 0, hearing the call, sees that the annunciator 40 has operated, and he thereupon turns his switch 4 to the contact 1 and raises his receiver 5 from its switch 9. The closed metallic circuit between the calling and the called stations will thereupon be completely established through the respective telephone instruments, as before explained. 'When they have finished talking, they hang their receivers 5 upon the switches 9.

It is obvious that when two main-line wires are being used any other line-wires can be utilized without interfering with the firstmentioned Wires. It is evident also that the call-bells 19 could be located on the wire that leads from the coils of magnet 23 to ground.

From what has been described it will be seen that the main-line wire belonging to a calling station is utilized to operate an annunciator or indicator in a called station, and that the main-line wires belonging to two stations are looped together through their telephone instruments to provide a closed metallic circuit between said stations through their telephone instruments. By this means a limited number of wires are provided to produce a number of effects.

It will be obvious that the particular arrangement of contacts, Wires, batteries, &c.., shown can be varied, while still producing the efliects described, without departing from the spirit of my invention. When in this specification I say that the main-line conductors or wires pass through the stations, I mean, of course, that they are connected with the stations in suitable manner, either by passing directly through or into the stations or by having suitable connecting or branch conductors or wires leading to the stations, the idea being that the current can traverse any line-wire for the purpose of entering any station.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is 1. In a calling system, a plurality of stations, a plurality of wires passing through said stations, each wire being normally apportioned to one station calling devices and indicators or annunciators in each station, means in one station for giving a call in another station over the wire belonging to the latter station, and means in the first-mentioned station for operating an indicator or annunciator over the wire belonging to the calling station.

2. In a calling system, a plurality of stations, a plurality of normally open wires passin g through said stations, each wire being normally apportioned to one station, calling devices and indicators or annunciators in one station, and means in another station for operating the calling devices in one stat-ion over the wire belonging to the latter station and at the same time closing the circuit of the annunciator or indicator in the called station, and means in the calling station to operate the corresponding annunciator or indicator in the called station over the wire belonging to the calling station.

3. In a calling system having a plurality of stations, a plurality of wires passing through said stations, each wire being normally apportioned to one station, calling or signaling instruments in each station, indicators or annunciators in each station connected with the wires belonging to the other stations, normally open circuits in each station for said indicators or annunciators, means in each station for closing said circuits of said indicators or annunciators, and means in each station to enable a call to be given inanother station over the wire belonging to the latter station, and to operate theindicator or annunciator in the latter station that is connected with the wire belonging to the calling station.

4. In a calling system having a plurality of stations a plurality of wires passing through said stations, each wire being normally apportioned to one station, signaling or calling instruments in each station, means connected with the wire belonging to a station for operating the calling instruments in that station, indicators or annunciators in each station connected with the wires belonging to the other stations, and a circuit-closer in each station arranged so that at one operation an impulse will be sent over the main wire belonging to another station to operate the calling instruments in the latter station and to close the circuit of the corresponding indicator or annunciator, and to send an impulse to tors or annunciators leading from the main lines belonging to the other stations, means in each station for closing said circuits of said indicators or annunciators upon the operation of said signaling instruments in a called station, and a circuit-closer in each station arranged so that at one operation an impulse will be sent over the main wire belonging to another station to operate the calling instruments in the latter station and to close the circuits of the corresponding indicators or annunciators, and to send an impulse to the latter station over the main wire belonging to the calling station to operate the annunciator in the called station corresponding to the calling station.

6. In a calling system having a plurality of stations, a plurality of wires passing through said stations, each wire being normally apportioned to one station, signaling or calling instruments in each station, annunciators in each station connected with the wires beeach station to connect the other of said branches with the wire belonging to another station, a push-button or circuit-closer in each station to connect said circuit with its two branches so that an impulse can be sent over one wire to operate the calling instruments in one station and so that an impulse can be sent over the main wire belonging to the calling station to operate the indicator or annunciator connected therewith in a called station.

7. In a calling system having a plurality of stations, a plurality of wires passing through said stations, each wire being normally apportioned to one station, signaling or calling instruments in each station, indicators or a11- nunciators in each station connected with the Wires belonging to the other stations, a circuit in each station leading from ground through a wire or wires and a battery to a contact 34:, a contact 35, wires 36 and 7 and a switch 4 connected therewith, contacts connected with the main-line wires belonging to the other stations to be engaged by the switch 4, a contact 29 to engage contact 34, and a conductor or conductors leading from the contact 29 to the main-line wire belonging to its station, whereby when the switch atis turned to a contact connected with the main wire belonging to the desired station and the contacts 29, 3% and 35 are engaged an impulse will be sent to the desired station to operate its calling instruments and an impulse will be sent to the indicator or annunciator in the called station to operate the latter therein.

8. In a calling system having a plurality of stations a plurality of wires passing through said stations, each wire passing through said stations, each wire being normally apportioned to a station, a normally open circuit in each station, signaling or calling instruments located on said local circuit, a magnet and armature in each station to close said circuit, a circuit in each station for said magnet normally connected with the line-wire belonging to that station, indicators or annunciators in each station, normally open spur-circuits in each station for forming electrical connection between the corresponding annunciators or indicators and the line-wires belonging to the other stations, a contact or contacts operated by said armature in each station to close the circuits for said indicators or annunciators, means in each station to enable an impulse to be sent to a desired station over the main-line wire belonging to that station to operate the magnet therein to close the circuit for its sig naling instruments and to close the circuits of the indicators or annunciators, and means in each station to enable an impulse to be sent over the main-line wire belonging to that station to operate the indicator or annunciator in the called station.

9. In a telephone and calling system havin g a plurality of stations, a plurality of wires passing through said stations, signaling or calling devices in each station, a local circuit in each station therefor, a magnet and armature in each station to close the respective local circuit for the calling devices, a circuit for said magnet in each station normally connected with the respective main-line wire belonging to that station to enable the respective magnet to be operated, a normally-closed push-button or circuit-closer in each station on the circuit of said magnet, adapted to break said circuit when operated, another normally open circuit in each station including a battery and contacts, said contacts being arranged to be closed upon the operation of said push-button or circuit-closer, a switch in each station connected with the last-mentioned circuit, and contacts in each station connected with the main-line wires and adapted to be engaged by said switch, whereby when the switch in a station is turned to a contact and the push-button is operated the circuit of the respective magnet will be broken and the battery-circuit to the switch will be closed to send an impulse to the desired station.

10. In a telephone and calling system having a plurality of stations, a plurality of wires passing through said stations, signaling or calling instruments in each station, indica tors or annunciators in each station for electrical connection with the wires belonging to the other stations, means in each station to operate a call in another station, means in each station to operate the corresponding indicator or annunciator in a called station, telephone instruments in each station and means in each station to enable said telephone instruments in two stations to be connected through a closed metallic circuit formed. by the main wires belonging to a calling and a called station.

11. In a telephone and calling system having a plurality of stations, a plurality of wires passing through said stations, each wire being normally apportioned to one station,signaling or calling devices in each station,indicators or annunciators in each station connected with the wires belonging to the other stations, means in each station to operate a call in another station when the calling station is connected with the wire belonging to the called station, means in each station to operate the corresponding indicator or annunciator in a called station, telephone instruments in each station contacts in each station connected with the main-line wires belonging to the other stations, a switch in each station to engage said contacts, a wire or wires in each station connecting said switch with the receiver, a contact connected with said receiver, another switch in each station to engage said contact, and a conductor connecting the last-mentioned switch with the main line belonging to a station, whereby when the first-mentioned switches in two stations are turned to the proper contacts and the second-mentioned switches are operated a closed metallic circuit will be established through the telephone instruments in two stations.

12. In a telephone system having a plurality of stations, a plurality of wires passing through said stations, each wire being normally apportioned to one station, telephone instruments in each station normally out of circuit with the line-wire apportioned to its station, means in each station for connecting its telephone instruments with said line-wire, and means in each station for connecting its telephone instruments with the line-wire normally apportioned to another station, whereby when corresponding operations have taken place in two stations a closed metallic circuit will be established through the telephone instruments in said stations through the two main-line wires that are normally apportioned to the calling and called stations.

13. In a telephone system having a plurality of stations, a plurality of wires passing through said stations, each wire being normally apportioned to one of said stations, telephone instruments in each station, a branch wire in each station connected with its mainline wire and with a switch, another branch wire or wires in each station leading through the receiver and induction-coil to a contact which is adapted to be engaged bysaid switch, a switch in each station connected with said branch wire, and contacts in each station connected with the main-line wires belonging to the other stations and adapted to be engaged by said second-mentioned switch, whereby when said switches in two stations have been operated to make proper electrical connections a closed metallic circuit through the telephone instruments in two stations will be established out of the line-wires normally apportioned to the calling and called stations.

14. In a calling system, a plurality of stations, calling instruments in each station, a plurality of conductors connected with each station, each conductor being normally apportioned to one station for use in operating the calling instrument in the corresponding 

